Back to Life

Summer breathed its last gasp yesterday here in Northeastern Wisconsin. It was an awful day to go back to school. It hit 90 with high humidity, one of those days where it's hard to take a deep breath because the air is so thick. Last night, fierce, but brief, thunderstorms whipped across the sky. Our power flickered in and out, and the trees swayed in the high winds. This morning we woke up to 60 degree weather, and it's about 70 now with a light breeze, and it feels wonderful outside, but definitely like the beginning of fall. Tomorrow we're supposed to have a high of 65; that's quite a difference in 48 hours time, but it's one of the reasons I love Wisconsin weather.

Back to Life by Kristin Billerbeck is the second book in the Trophy Wives' Club series. Lindsay married a man, Ron, seventeen years her elder for his money, but came to love him in time, so she is devastated by his sudden death, leaving her a widow at the age of 35. She's living in a condo with old woman who have lots of cats and trying to get her feet back on the ground when her husband's first wife, Jane, shows up to execute his will, bringing with her a handsome son, Ron Jr, who she swears isn't Ron's son. Billerbeck takes what could be a typical chick-lit plot and gives it life and zing. Lindsay has used her beauty to get by for so long, that she doesn't even notice when she's doing it, and Billerbeck is careful not to let the reader in on it too soon, so when Lindsay is stunned by the revelation, the reader is as well, but it makes all of the pieces of the entire novel fall into place. The chapters alternate between Lindsay and Jane, both of whom seem lost and are flailing about for what to do next. The highlight of the book for me was Lindsay's confrontation with Haley. Lindsay's attempt to control the argument and use of twisted logic was hilarious and extraordinarily well done. I've been on the both side of arguments just like that; to capture that in print is amazing. I'm looking forward to see which Trophy Wife Billerbeck tackles next.

Today's pic is another one from yesterday. This one shows Mia's excitement over her first day of school.